שמות, פרק כ״ז, פסוק ג׳

The continuous operation of the altar requires a complete system of dedicated tools designed for the physical maintenance of the fire, the handling of sacrifices, and overall cleanliness. The primary task of maintaining this cleanliness involves specific tools for waste removal. Wide-mouthed pots or cauldrons are used to clear away the leftover ashes and soot from the sacrifices [רש״י, קאסוטו]. Interestingly, the action of removing these ashes relies on a concept that typically implies creating fat or richness, yet in this context, it signifies the exact opposite: the complete removal and clearing of waste [רש״י, אבן עזרא, חזקוני]. To gather these ashes into the pots, the priests use shovels crafted as thin metal covers attached to handles [רש״י, רשב״ם, רלב״ג].

Beyond cleaning, specific instruments are required for the sacrificial service itself. Basins are utilized to collect the blood of the sacrifices so it can be thrown against the altar [רשב״ם, שד״ל]. Additionally, large forks with bent teeth are used by the priests to pierce the meat and turn the pieces over the burning coals, thereby accelerating the burning process [רש״י, קאסוטו]. In rabbinic tradition, these forks are referred to as hook-like instruments [פרדס יוסף, ביאור יש״ר]. The final tools in this system are firepans, shaped like pans with three walls and a handle. These are used to scoop up burning coals from the outer altar and carry them inside the Tabernacle to the inner golden altar for the incense offering [רש״י, ריב״א]. Because they are mentioned in the plural, there are at least two of these firepans in use [אבן עזרא הקצר].

The instruction dictates that every tool in this system must be crafted from copper. The primary approach among commentators is that a minor grammatical addition in the phrasing of this command is merely for stylistic flow, simply conveying that all its tools must be included [רש״י, אבן עזרא, רלב״ג]. However, some observe that ancient translations like Targum Onkelos treat this addition as deliberate and translate it explicitly [ברכת אשר על התורה]. The specific requirement for copper dictates that the metal must be specially refined and purified exclusively for the altar's use [העמק דבר]. Through this dedicated craftsmanship and physical labor, ordinary raw material is transformed into a holy vessel [רש״ר הירש].

From a moral perspective, these simple copper tools serve as a subtle rebuke to the person bringing a sacrifice. The pots, forks, and basins mirror the everyday cooking and eating utensils that a person might use in the pursuit of earthly delicacies and physical desires, which are the very pursuits that often lead to sin. By presenting these instruments stripped of their material indulgence and repurposed as simple copper tools for divine service, the process reminds the individual of life's temporary nature. It encourages a shift away from the pursuit of luxury, redirecting one's focus entirely toward serving God [אלשיך].